Converter-valve.



P. E. GANNON.

CONVERTER VALVE.

APPLLoA'rIoN FILED MAB. 1s, 1912.

1,034,995. Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

('Zf'll /f/'f INVENTOR fi/Mf f/l/v/va/V,

BVM,

MTURIVEYS UNITED STA'IEgSIAIEN T GFFICE.

PRIME EDWARD GANNON, OF JEROME, ARIZONA.

CONVERTER- VALVE.

Application tiled March 13, 1912.

To all 'whom 'it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, IIuMn llmvann GAN- NoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jerome, in the county of Yavapai and State of Arizona, Ahave invented a ne\v and useful Ilnprovement in Converter- Valves, of which the following` is a speci-A lication.

My present invention relates to valves of that eharaeter which are utilized in connection with the wind boxes of converters. particularly copper converters, and which are adapted to permit of the insertion of a rod therethrough, such rod being extended through the twyer for the purpose of preventing the latter from clogging while the impurities are being blown out of the copper.

Ordinarily, valves of the present character have been made in sections, that section which carries the valve member being se- -cured to the inside of the wind box cover,

thus necessitating the removal of such cover when replacing a defective. valve. It will be at once seen that removingr the wind box cover in turn necessitates shutting down the converter.

My present invention grows out of the deticieneies above noted, and its object is to provide a valve which may bc secured to' the wind box cover in such a manner that it may be replaced without interfering with the operation of the converter.

Other objects, and the advantages, of my invention will be apparent from the follow`A ing description and the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specilieation, and in which,

Figure l is a vertical section through a converter showingthe practical application of my ixoprovcdvalve; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through my improved valve removed, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section therethrough taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring now to these figures, I have shown a converter, A, in l, as provided with a twycr a and a wind box a secured thereto around the twyer and having its cover a2 provided with an opening (I3. My improved valve is east in one piece and comprises a tubular body portion B, the bore Il of which is provided intermediate its ends with an enlargement as shown at B2 in Fig. 2, thus forming a circular shoulder B3, the purpose of which will be hereinafter pointed Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A ug. (i, 19123. serian Nol 683,485.

out. The enlarged portion l: of the bore constitutes one end of the-bore C formed within an angularly inclined enlargement C of the body ll, and in which bore C is arranged the valve member D, at present shown in the form of a ballor sphere. Inasmueh as the bores` Il and C intersect one another, the valve member D, being free to move in the latter, normally assumes theI position shown in Fig. 2, and when the valve is properly positioned in connection with the wind box, as shown in Fig. 1, the valve member D is held seated against the shoulder Il. The enlargement C inclincs outwardly toward one end of the body Il and the latter is provided at its opposite end with an omstanding attachingl flange E, having upon its inner face, embossed gasket rings E" and E2 which are arranged concentrically and in spaced relation, and between which 'the flange E is provided with transverse openings Fig, the latter being adapted for the reception of suitable members for the purpose of fastening the flange upon the outer surface of the wind box cover a2 in the position as shown in Fig. 1.

In practical operation, a rod such as shown in dotted lines at F in Figs. l and 2, is introduced through the borel B of the body B and tends to raise the valve member D upwardly in the bore C of the enlargement C, in order that the rod may pass inwardly through the valve and through the twyer a whereby to prevent the latter from clogging while the impurities are being blown out of the copper within the converter.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that it. is essential that my valve be cast in one piece in order that when attached to the wind box cover A2, as shown in Fig. 1, it may be removed a whole and quickly replaced without interfering to a serious eX- tentwith the operation of the converter. In order that the valve member D may be properly positioned' as described, I preferably embed the same in the core, which, in the operation of molding the valve, forms the bore B' in the body and the bore C in the body enlargement. Thus when the core is subsequently removed, the valve member D remains inclosed.

In the formation of the valve, any materials which will resist a heat of 300 degrees F. will suffice, and while it is probable with some of these materials, such for instance as steel, it will be necessary to insert a niaehined Jeat l'or the valve m'ember D, within the valve in substantially the same manner as tht' said valve member is inserted, with most of the materialsI such as east iron, brass and aluminum it is simply necessary to stand the valve upright, on its ianged end and by inserting a tool within the opposite end of the bere l and striking the valve member several sharp blows, it will form its own' seat. Likewise, when the valve fiange E is secured to the wind box cover ce?, the ange is lightly tapped and this tapping together with the tightening of the fastening ineinbers causes the gasket rings IG and E2 to slightly flatten and compress against the outer'surfaee of the cover.

In a valve of the character described, a easing east in one piece and comprising a tubular body portion having an outstanding attaching flange at one end and an angular enlargement adjacent its opposite end, said enlargement being inclined away from said flange and having a bore intersecting that of the body, said bore of said enlargenient being of greater cross section than that of the body whereby to form a circular shoulder extending around the body bore at the point of intersection of the bores, which shoulder eonstitutes a valve-seat, a ball slidable in said enlargement and constituting a valve. said ball being of greater cross seetion than the bore of the body whereby to adapt the same to seat against the said shoulder and to prevent its removal fr( n the said enlargement.

y PRIME EDWARD GANNON.

Yitnesses 2 ARTHUR F. JACQUES, THOMAS C. STONE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

